Lawn-tennis-court marker.



PATENTED SEPT. 19, 1905'.A

A. L..RICKMAN.

LAWN TENNIS COURT MARKER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17. 1905.

W/ /VESSES;

lUNrTEn sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE.

ALBERT L. RIOKMAN, OF SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONEIIALF TODWIGHT HOLBROOK, OF SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA.

LAWN-TENNlS-COURT MARKER,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1905.

Application ned July 17, 1905. Serial No. 270,147.

T0 all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT L. RICKMAN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of SiouXFalls, Minnehaha county, State of South Dakota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lawn-Tennis-CourtMarkers; and my preferred manner of carrying out the invention is setforth in the following full, clear, and exact description, terminatingwith claims -particularly specifying the novelty.

This invention relates to games and toys, and more especially to thegame of lawn-tennis; and it consists in a device for marking out thecourt upon which the game of tennis is played, although it will be clearthat it would be equally useful in marking out any other device upon theground, the sod, or a pavement.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction of devices ofthis character heretofore made, the improvements consist- 'ingspecifically in constructions whereby betterfacilities are afforded forloading, for making a straight, narrow, and heavy line, and for layingthe lines without interruption by prevailing winds.

To these ends the invention consists in the details of construction setforth below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-Figure I is a perspective view of this marker complete viewed partlyfrom the under side. Fig. II is a central'longitudinal section. Fig. IIIis a transverse section. Fig. IV is a hori- Zontal section taken justabove the bottom so as to show the close tit of the wheel within thecasing.

Referring to the drawings, the letter H designates a handle, to whoselower end is attached a casing C, made, preferably, of tin or otherlight metal and having a hinged lid L closing its open top, throughwhich it can be filled with powdered lime or other substance with whichthe lines are to be made. This casing has a bottom B, and its sides andends depend slightly below said bottom, so as to form side flanges F andend iianges E, the latter being preferably bent outward horizontally, asshown, so as not to impede the free Inovement of the device when in use.All these angestravel very near the ground, and their purpose obviouslyis to prevent the existing wind from blowing away or scattering the limeas it is laid by my improved marker.

The ends of the side ianges are rounded off to prevent their stickinginto the earth, and the outturned portions of the end iianges stand at alittle higher level than the lower edges of the other anges, as shown.the operator by elevating or depressing the handle can cause that endiiange E which is to the wind ward to travel as close to the earth asmay be necessary, while the side flanges F always do so.

5The bottom B of the casing is provided with an I-shaped opening I,through which extends the lower portion of a wheel W, whose body standsmainly within the casing and is mounted on journals J therein. Said bodyis eX- tremely thin and flat and fits rather closely within the shank oflthe Lshaped opening, while the periphery or rim R of the wheel issomewhat wide and passes through the ends of the I-opening, as shown inFig. IV. I-Iere also it fits as closely as possible, the object being toprevent the undesirable escape of the marking-powder; but this rim iscorrugated, preferably obliquely, so that the descending side of thewheel shall carry out through the end of the I-opening small charges ofpowder within the corrugations. If these are oblique, it will be clearthat any lumps or obstructions which may exist in the powder will bedeected to one side, and hence no obstruction to the successfuloperation of the device willV result.

In operation the lid israised and the casing nearly filled with finelypowdered lime or other equally good marking substance. The handle isthen grasped and the device lifted and carried to the point of use. Hereit is put in position with the lower protruding periplrery of the wheelupon the ground and lthe flanges nearly in contact therewith. Thereafterthe marker is pushed alonga former faint line or over a string or towarda given object if the users eye be true, and the result will be that anarrow but heavy white line will be formed upon the ground, sod, orpavement. -As the device progresses the contact of the lower peripheryof the wheel with the earth causes the wheel to rotate, and in doing sothe corrugations in the descending side 0f its periphery draw out tinesuccessive charges of powder and carry them down and discharge them uponthe earth. The close fit of the edges of the opening I around the bodyand periphery of the wheel prevents the escape of pow- However,

IOO

der at other points, resulting `in its waste and the blurring of theline being formed. I consider it desirable to make the corrugationsoblique for the reasons set forth above.

I/Vhat is claimed as new is- 1. In a court-marker, acasing with anopening in its bottom, and side and end anges depending below saidbottom, combined with a wheel journaled within the casing with its lowerside projecting through said opening.

2. In a court-marker, a casing with an opening in its bottom, and sideand end iianges depending below said bottom, the end flanges beingturned out horizontally; combined with a wheel journaled within thecasing with its lower side projecting through said opening.

3. In a court-marker, a casing with an opening in its bottom, and meansfor feeding the marking-powder through said opening' during theprogression of the marker over the ground; combined with anges dependingfrom the sides of the casing and having rounded corners, and iiangesdepending from the ends of the casing and bent outward.

4. In a court-marker, a casing having an I- shaped opening in itsbottom, combined with a wheel journaled within said casing and having athinnarrow body and`a flat periphery, the lower side of body andperiphery projecting through said opening.

5. In a court-marker, a casing having an I- shaped opening in itsbottom, combined with a wheel journaled within said casing and having athin body and a wide corrugated periphery, the lower side of its bodyand periphery projecting through -said opening.

6. In a court-marker, a casing having an opening in its bottom, combinedwith a wheel journaled within said casing and having' obliquecorrugations in its periphery, the lower side of the w heel projecting'through said opening.

7. In a court-marker, a casing having an I- shaped opening in itsbottom, combined with a wheel journaled within said casing and having athin body and a wide periphery both fitting closely within said openingand the lower side of the wheel projecting below the casing, saidperiphery being obliquely corrugated.

8. In a court-marker, a casing having an I- shaped opening' in itsbottom, and flanges depending from its sides and ends below said bottom;combined with a wheel journaled within the casing and having a thin bodyand a iiat corrugated periphery, the lower side of the wheel projectingthrough said slot to a point below said flanges, all as and for thepurpose set forth.

9. In a court-marker, an upright box-shaped casing having an open topand a closed bottom with a hole in the latter, and a hinged coverclosing said top; combined with a wheel Ijournaled within the casing andprojecting through said hole, and means for simultaneously shielding theprojecting portion of said wheel from wind on three sides, as and forthe purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my signature this the14th day of July,

ALBERT L. RICKMAN. Witnesses:

ED C. ZIMMERMAN, M. E. STRoi-IEGKER.

